1861-1864

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Header Record

Title: Collection of Diton Phelps, F company, 6th regiment, Pennsylvania, infantry [Decimalized .01-.18]

The letters are written by Diton Phelps to his family. Most of the letters are written to his sisters with a few to his parents. There is a possibility that the letters are out of order due to no year being listed. Letters discuss camp life, his health, and the different people he encounters. A trial and hearings on his captain and lieutenant are discussed throughout the letters.

GLC03523.49

11 June 1861

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edith M. Phelps

Writes to his sister from Camp Curtin, Pennsylvania. Mentions that they are under strict rules in the camp; two pages of paper are issued each day to a company and they can wash in the river every other day. Writes about a fellow who was court marshaled yesterday for striking an officer. The man had to spend five days imprisoned; he was then marched out of camp and taken to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was given a new suit and 30 dollars. Most of the camp took the man's side because the officer had abused him. A fight later broke out in camp where some men pushed the guards around.…

GLC03523.49.01

11 August 1861

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter

Title: to Edith M. Phelps

Writes to his sister from Camp Gibson. Says that they are placing a masked battery about a mile from camp. Writes that they are clearing an area of trees that is about a mile in width. Says that 14 men out of his company were chopping down trees yesterday and today. Reports that they are about nine miles from Fairfax Court House where there is a rebel camp. They have picket guards in place between them and the rebel camp with the bridge being heavily guarded. Describes an impending battle that General [Winfield] Scott is planning. He is preparing a masked battery to relieve the picket…

GLC03523.49.04

11 July 1861

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father

Writes to his father from Camp Curtain. Says that they received marching orders to leave tomorrow morning. Says that they might go to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania but it is not for certain. The Captain said that they might be in the hottest part of the battle and the boys are delighted at the prospect. Reports of receiving their arms which are "old rusty muskets that our four fathers used in the Revolution." Describes mailing his and the boys' clothes back home. They mailed them by express but did not pay freight because they didn't know the cost. Tells his father to divide the freight…

GLC03523.49.02

July 14, 1861

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Writes to his sister from Camp Biddle. Reports that the camp is empty except for a few picket guards placed to guard the railroad. Comments that they are surrounded by secessionists who are armed. Says that the pickets are shot at almost every night and a bullet grazed a guard's arm last night. Reports that the Massachusetts regiment shot two men that were tearing up the track. Writes about their tents leaking when they first arrived and having to sleep upon their blankets on the ground. Says that they have 15 tents, six men to a tent. Describes how three of their men went into town…

GLC03523.49.03

7 December 1861

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edith M. Phelps

Writes to his sister from Camp Pierpont. Reports of his crew going on a "foraging" and returning with 102 loads of corn and 20 loads of oats and hay. Describes having a good turkey dinner for Thanksgiving. A man named Bill Waldron purchased a turkey for 50 cents and had it baked. Writes of Bill Waldron having things sent to him, requests that his parents send him six to ten pounds of butter and some chickens with Bill's stuff for Christmas. Says that butter is worth 30 cents where he is at. Reports having his picture taken in full uniform and looking very military. Written on "6th…

GLC03523.49.05

29 December 1861

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his father and his sister, Edith M. Phelps

Writes to his father and sister from Camp Pierpont. Says that he received his letter and the cheese that his mother sent. Mentions having very cold weather for this part of the country. Says that they only have boards, no furs, in their tents to lie upon and that some of the boys have dug cellars two feet deep in their tents. Writes of there not being a fence in sight; they have all been cut down and used for fire wood. Reports that the surgeon says that it will be a year before Captain Daniel Bradbury is able to take charge of the camp again. Says that the Captain and his wife are…

GLC03523.49.06

January 19, 1862

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edith M. Phelps

Writes to his sister from Camp Pierpont. Speaks of a friend named John choosing to "serve god." Comments that he is fond of Professor Waldon and believes him to be a "clever honest fellow." Says that they recently purchased a stove that smokes a lot and built a "Shebang" out of logs. Reports that some of the boys have been court marshaled and that he has been subpoenaed to testify. Describes there being hard feelings between some of the boys from Athens and Smithfield. Mentions that Captain Daniel Bradbury just lays abed swearing about his leg. Says that the Captain, "uses the most…

GLC03523.49.07

February 15, 1862

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Don

Writes from Camp Pierpont. Wants Don to visit and see what camp life is like. Tells of the different kinds of societies that exist in camp. Inside the tents he states that there is usually gambling and card playing, even amongst the officers and with those who are under arrest. Discusses the Lieutenant Forrest trial. Says that some of the charges against him were sustained; however, they [the army?] were not satisfied and have brought more charges against him. The first court-marshal resulted in a reprimand from General George McCall. The Lieutenant was found guilty of using…

GLC03523.49.09

1 July 1862

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister

Writes that they have been heading up the James River since last Saturday. Reports that the rebels broke through General George McClellan's right and came upon them. They did not have enough force to defend that point and were ordered to leave. They torched what they could not carry and escaped to the boats right before the rebels fell upon them. Writes that it will now take them three to four days to make it to Richmond, Virginia because the rebels got between them and the main body of the army. They have to go down the York River, into the Chesapeake Bay, and up the James River.…

GLC03523.49.10

23 November 1862

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his mother

Writes about the preacher at camp. Comments that he is a good man but is not very smart. Says that he went to the preacher last night and was given a prayer book. States that he reads a chapter in the testament out loud every night before retiring. Reports that Captain Daniel Bradbury is to be court marshaled tomorrow for leaving his post while on picket duty. He has heard that the Captain might have to hand in his resignation. Assures his mother that she does not need to worry about him wasting his money on liquor, as he has never spent a cent on it in his life. Describes an older…

GLC03523.49.11

circa 12 September 1861-1864

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edith M. Phelps

Writes to sister from Rappahannock Station. Comments about it being so dry that it is difficult to get water. Says that there is a spring nearby but there is hardly enough water to supply the regiment. Says that he misses home and looks forward to his service expiring. Talks about how there will be rejoicing among the soldiers when it happens but hopes the rebellion will be over by that time; he saw the beginning and would like to see the end. Writes of an engagement between his father and another man. It was stated that his father did not keep his flank protected or his reserve in…

GLC03523.49.12

27-28 September 1863

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Writes to his sister from Culpepper Station. Talks about the boys making fun of a man named Greenleaf who recently arrived in camp. Comments that he likes Greenleaf and finds him an "honest fellow." Tells his sister that she is foolish for thinking of marrying at such a young age. Writes, "Money is not what we should look at in selecting a partner for life. You are foolish girl for thinking of marrying or being engaged so young you had not right to think of it for seven or eight years. You have not fairly got your cloaks off yet."

GLC03523.49.13

21 October 1863

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to sister

Describes leaving Rappahannock and having the rebels close on their heels. Says that the rebels continued to follow them until they crossed the river. Writes that they were not able to cross back over the river until the next evening. They sent the cavalry out and were able to chase the rebels back to Culpepper and "made them skedaddle for dear life." Afterwards, they crossed the river again and continued their march to Fairfax, Virginia. The rebels followed closely behind them up to Bull Run. The rebels managed to plant a battery half a mile from them without being discovered and…

GLC03523.49.14

February 15, 1861-1864

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to D. G. Tracy

Writes to his sister from Camp Pierpont, Virginia. Describes being court marshaled and how the hearing was adjourned until next Thursday. Comments that Forrest has had a long "siege of it," and there is no prospect of it ending until next Thursday. Reports that Fort Donelson was just captured and a lot of prisoners taken. Among the prisoners was the notorious traitor, [Sue] Floyd. Speaks of the captain yelling and swearing at people all the time. Says that he tried to get a furlough to come home but was denied. Writes that that he is sending $46 home and hopes to send $1000 over the…

GLC03523.49.15

circa June 1, 1864

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister and parents

Reports that he just heard that General Nathanial Banks was defeated and that General Thomas [Stonewall] Jackson has gotten himself into a scrape. He is surrounded by General "Seigal" [Franz Sigel?], General Edward Ord, and General [John] Frémont. Comments about General Ord being their old Brigade General and that everyone hated to see him leave. Writes that he sent home a new dress coat and $18. The letter is dated 1 June but a year is not given.

GLC03523.49.16

circa 10 August 1861-1864

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to father

Writes to his father from Harrison's Landing. Informs him that he sent twenty dollars home with a man named C. B. Riggs. Instructs his father to use the money to "the best advantage." Letter is faded. Letter has an image of a soldier printed on the top left hand side. The letter is dated 10 August but a year is not given.

GLC03523.49.17

circa 15 July 1861-1864

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to mother

Writes to his mother from Harrison's Landing. Comments about the warm weather that they are having. Says that it is thundering and he hopes that it rains so they will get water. Reports that Lieutenant Forrest is at home and does not believe that he will return. Believes that the lieutenant will resign once he finds out the news. Feels that they now have good new officers in their camp. Writes that the new lieutenant is not nearly as difficult for him or the rest of the camp to get along with as Lieutenant Forrest was. Requests that she send him some cheese through Adams Express. Says…

GLC03523.49.18

February 9, 1862

Phelps, Diton, fl. 1861-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edith M. Phelps

Writes to his sister from Camp Pierpont. Describes trying to get a furlough to go home but says that they stopped issuing all furloughs except for officers. Comments that Lieutenant Forrest has been home three times since they started marching and plans on going home again. Reports that Lieutenant Forrest went to trial and was found guilty of some of the charges. He was sentenced to be reprimanded by General George McCall. Writes that Lieutenant Forrest was taken again on other charges and will have another trial next Wednesday. Comments that Lieutenant Forrest has some bitter enemies…

GLC03523.49.08